The overlooked role of the ocean in mercury cycling in the Arctic.
The rapid and high bioaccumulation of mercury in marine mammals and its spatial and temporal variations have been a major puzzle in the Arctic. While extensive efforts have been focussed on the monitoring and chemistry of atmospheric mercury depletion events, a recent mass budget estimate of mercury in the Arctic suggests that we have overlooked the role of the ocean itself. Only through focussed studies on Hg dynamics in the Arctic Ocean under a changing climate are we going to understand what the risk of mercury is to those marine ecosystems and the people who rely on them.
Macdonald
Robie W
RW
Department of Environment, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N2. robie.macdonald@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Wang
Feiyue
F
Stern
Gary
G
Outridge
Peter
P
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002591:Cetacea; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury